Ask A Minnesota Expert: Easy Crafts To Do With Your Kids

"As an artist in this millennia, I really like projects that encourage kids and adults to make use of all of the materials surrounding them that they can reuse," Ruth Mason, Artist-Instructor with the Minnetonka Center for the Arts, says. "Turning 'nothing' into something is what I like to call it." Mason and co-instructor Julia Zimmerman enjoy introducing art into the everyday lives of children and their families hoping to transform their lives in some way, building self-esteem and teaching positive behaviors.

Ruth Mason & Julia Zimmerman
Artist-Instructors
Minnetonka Center for the Arts
2240 Northshore Drive
Wayzata, MN 55391
(952) 473-7361, ext. 16
www.minnetonkaarts.org

Ruth Mason

Ruth Mason is devoted to working with children and teens on projects large and small. She also has a strong repertoire for large-scale, public works such as plays, performances, installations, murals, films, sculptures and spontaneous artworks. Mason blended her studies in theatre arts at Children's Theatre in Minneapolis with a B.F.A. from Minneapolis College of Art and Design to launch a 15-year career in film and television production - serving as a producer, writer, camera and audio technician.

Ruth's Cardboard Faces

1. Use a variety of cardboard from packaging such as corrugated cardboard, cereal boxes, cracker boxes or cardboard from 6-packs of beer or soda.
2. Cut or tear the large corrugated pieces into rectangles roughly 12" x 16". This will be the head.
3. Paint it bright green (or any color you like), and let it dry.
4. Cut the other cardboard (which should be lighter tag board or chip board) into 1-2" shapes - circles, triangles and rectangles.  The designs on the packaging will give you more ideas for shapes.
5. Use these pieces to make the eyes, nose, ears and hair. Apply strong white or dark glue to fasten the pieces. Weight them down if necessary to dry.

"I like to touch the faces up with black sharpie on the pupils of the eyes, eyelashes and things like that," Ruth says. "You can alter these for Halloween or any other celebration."

Ruth's Collage Travel, Skateboard or Band Posters

Use old magazines, old greeting cards, packaging, glue, markers and a large piece of paper or tag board and create posters for events or hobbies or vacations. Ruth says older kids love to make these keepsakes.

Ruth's Initials Collage or Papier-Mâché

Everyone loves the letters of their name. You can do larger papier-mâché projects using cardboard from packaging or do an easier collage by tearing strips of colorful paper and gluing them onto illustration board. Use two shades of the same color around the initials to make a dimensional background.

Related: Best Kids Art Classes In Minnesota

Julia Zimmerman

Julia Zimmerman is an Artist-Instructor at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts' Summer Arts Camp and for many of its outreach programs for adults and children with disabilities. For example, Julia teaches at St. David's Center for Child and Family Development and recently brought students on a field trip to the Art Center to make art and fashion items with duct tape. Julia suggests two great sculpture projects that are appropriate for ages 7 to 13.

Julia's Wire/Nylon Stocking Sculpture

Materials:

1. Block of wood, approximately 4"x4"
2. Nylon knee-high stocking
3. Wire coat hanger
4. Mod Podge
5. Paint
6. Glue

Procedure:

1. Drill a small hole in the block of wood.
2. Cut about half of the "C" curve at the top of the hanger and bend it straight.
3. Bend the rest of the hanger into a cool shape.
4. Place the short straight end of the hanger into the hole in the wood and glue down.
5. Pull knee-high stocking over the bent hanger form and the block of wood.
6. Paint with two coats of Mod Podge and allow it to dry.
7. Paint, letting the sculpture's shape inspire you.
8. Decorate, if desired, with whatever materials you have like yarn, fabric, google eyes, glitter, etc. 

Julia's Habitats

Concept:

Think of a habitat you'd like to create, like your bedroom or a zoo or a forest.

Procedure:

Color an 8x10-inch square of cardboard (or foam board if you have it) with the appropriate color for your habitat. For example, if you were making a garden, the ground could be green or black, for your bedroom it might be the color of your carpet.

Using either found items or art supplies, "build" your habitat in three-dimension up from the base. Make trees out of paper and pipe cleaners. For a bed, use cardstock paper and then make a pillow and blanket from felt. Use things like foam packing peanuts to create a "shape zoo" (where instead of animals you have shapes), or use fabric scraps as a rug for your room. The possibilities are endless!

Related: Best Pottery Painting Classes For Kids In Minnesota

Robin Johnson was born in Annandale, Minn. and graduated from Richfield High School and then the University of Minnesota where he studied Political Science, Business and Industrial Relations. A writer for Examiner.com, he also consults with a variety of organizations and individuals helping them develop and grow. His work can be found at Examiner.com.